Cabling and Bracing

Tree Cabling, Tree Bracing, and Tree Supports

Cables and brace rods are supplemental structural supports intended to reduce the risk of failure of weak branches and multiple stems. Cables generally consist of extra high strength steel and are attached to bolts installed in the upper crown of a tree. They are intended to limit the movement of the supported branches so they are less likely to fail during storms. Braces are thread rod that are installed through unions of weak branches and multiple stems to provide more rigid support from torsional (twisting) forces that can occur in violent weather. Bartlett Tree Experts developed cabling and bracing procedures in the early twentieth century that are the industry standards and still used today.

Supplemental structural support systems should only be installed based on a thorough inspection and evaluation of tree structure by our
certified arborists. Materials and techniques must comply with published industry standards (American National Standards
Institute A-300 Standards). If trees have lightning protection systems, the conductor must be attached to any support cables
in the crown. Homeowners with supplemental structural support systems should contact Bartlett to inspect the system each year.

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